After not doing shit because the blonde in the crowd had broken my focus, I got the job done. It’d been Aspen screwing with my head. Fuck, it made me furious.
Turning toward Wolf, Track, and Lynx, I bobbed my head that I was okay. The concern on Wolf’s face was palpable as I gasped in buckets of air, waiting for the judges to announce the winner.
Tito the Freak hadn’t gotten off the mat. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t moving.
I staggered, wobbling to the side, my left eye almost swollen shut, my body covered in blood and sweat. I braced my hand on my hip, gritting my teeth through the pain in my ribs.
Dammit, that was close.
Too damn close.
I could’ve lost because ofher. This wasn’t okay with me. I didn’t need Aspen screwing up my life more than she already had. She needed to leave the compound. Today.
The ref raised my arm as my brothers joined me in the cage.
Fight over.
I won… barely.
I closed my eyes, frustrated as all get-out.
In a few hours, I’d be forced to see her. Just like the day I met her. If I’d defied my parents, my life would have turned out a whole helluva lot better…
Muffled laughter and cheering caught my attention while I moped in my bedroom. Dad was no doubt trying his best to pique my curiosity and spur me out of my room.
Nice try. Not happening.
I’d been brooding for the last hour. Lamenting my sucky, boring life. Obviously, my parents hated me. Holding me hostage when all I wanted was to hang with my buddies.
No dice.
According to Mom, Thanksgiving was a time for family.
Utter bullshit. My friends were my family too. But Mom didn’t buy into my “nonsense.”
Didn’t she understand how I only lived for going out like every other sixteen-year-old boy?
Dramatic much, Zach?
Hell yeah, I was.
A double knock on my door startled me. “What?”
“Hey Mr. Mopey Pants, be on your best behavior. I have a new friend joining us for dinner,” my little sister, Jill, yelled through the door. “Oh, and Mom said, we eat in thirty.”
The doorbell rang.
“Eek, she’s here!”
I buried my face in the pillow and let out a primal roar. If I had to be on my best behavior, I should be rewarded. Maybe if I played nice, Mom would let me hang with the guys. Wasn’t fair Jill had a friend over. I’d use that as leverage to make them let me go out.
Hopping off the bed, I checked my appearance in the mirrored closet door. Running fingers through my hair, I admired the way my bicep flexed each time I brushed my hand across the side of my head. Working out at the gym had paid off beautifully. Even better, I’d learned the fine art of boxing and a little mixed martial art.
“Damn, you’re one fine specimen, friend.” I whistled at the image in the mirror.
The Marines were lucky I wanted to join up. Most guys my age didn’t think about the future beyond friends and sex. Unless they were nerds planning to get a higher education. College wasn’t for me. I didn’t have the patience for academics with my 2.7 GPA.
I snickered at my reflection, then left to join the family.